Repeat after me "basketball is an international game.' It took the USA East squad in the nightcap to atone for a shocking and disappointing showing by the other two USA squads Friday night at the Nike Global Showcase. The East win saved face and put at least one of three United States teams in the semifinals tomorrow evening at Liberty High School after running by Team Asia 135-91. The Showcase features the worlds finest players under 20 years old going against the best United States high schoolers selected from different Nike Skills Camps.  


The talk of the tournament was the first game where USA Midwest was upset on a last second shot by Team Senegal 66-65. Led by arguably the best player in the entire tournament in 6'6 swingman Harrison Barnes, Team Midwest trailed at the half 40-32 before going into the fourth quarter trailing 50-47. The team from Africa looked better on this night though and deserved the win. They outrebounded Midwest by an alarming 65-40 margin and had a 29-15 edge on the O-boards. Neither team shot well but Senegal was paced by Papa Samba Ndao with 17 points and eight rebounds and Gorgui Sy Dieng with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Midwest's Barnes had 20 points and seven rebounds. '

Last year, Team Serbia looked like a well oiled machine but on this night Team Canada raced to a 51-28 halftime lead and never looked back winning 97-66. Even Jesuit's Kyle Wiltjer saw good minutes and productivity with nine points and leading the Canadian team in steals with four in 20 minutes of action. Canada's Tristan Thompson led the way with 18 points and nine rebounds. Canada had five players in double figures. The Serbian team's Aleksandar Ponjavic hit for 17.

The third game pitted Brazil against a USA team comprised of players from the South and West. Many were eager to see Terrence Jones who had an off evening. He wasn't the only one as Brazil put on a 'team clinic' behind great guard play from Raul Tongi Neto who kept his entire team in the flow en route to a 92-62 win. Jones finished the night six points and four rebounds. He also spent most the week in bed battling a virus and looked out of sync and tired on this night. The only bright spot of Team West South was the second half three point shooting of J.T. Terrell who led all scorers with 20. Brazil won the battle of the boards 49-35.

The nightcap featured USA's Team East against a squad from Nike Asia featuring the best players from Australia, China and Korea. Asia featured two seven footers and one, Li Muhao, looks like he has a tremendous future as he runs like a deer and has a sweet shoot. Still after a close first quarter, the East blew open with second quarter outscoring Asia 33-20 and would only extend if from there and just running away with the 135-91 win. Everyone seemed to play well. Just about everyone had double digits and they attacked the glass. They played East Coast style, rugged and around the basket whereas the other two US squads became content firing up the long ball and couldn't rebound.  

A couple things. It was apparant the foreign teams had more time playing together. The chemistry seemed far more jelled with Brazil and Senegal than their US counterparts. Also, plenty of our high school players are coming off a gruesome AAU circuit and frankly most don't look like they still have their legs. That said, the East looked fresh and flashy with good hops and chemistry. Not sure why they have it and the other two teams didn't.  One of the most enjoyable teams to watch is Brazil who has a point guard that is front runner for my personal all-star squad. He's #4 and his name is Raul. His vivisection of the US West South squad was a masterpiece.

Tomorrow, games start at 2pm when Team USA West South and Jefferson's Terrence Jones takes on Team Asia. At 4pm, its Harrison Barnes and Team USA Midwest against FMP Serbia. At 6pm its sem-final time and Kyle Wiltjer of Jesuit and the Canadians go against Senegal in a game that should be an intriguing matchup. Senegal looked talented but not very fundamentally strong last year in the tournament. This season, they seem like they have solved those problems and look much more dangerous. In the final game of the evening its Team USA East taking on the Brazilians in what should be a high scoring affair with plenty of flash and dazzle. Admission is $5 at the Liberty High School gym or you can go online to www.nikeglobalchallenge.com